sooo...fleas are a thing

Aiga (family, because we're all family right??)

How are yous??

Just forewarning: this keyboard has no letters on it... so we are relying on Sista Peo's memory... we all know how that is ;)

I bet you're all thinking this email will be boring because we just skyped on Saturday... WRONG!!!!

When we came home for the day on Saturday night Disaster struck!! I was wearing a bright yellow skirt that I got for Christmas, and I was preparing to get in the shower when I saw a black dot on my leg.... FLEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I quickly caught it with my ninja powers and killed it in the sink. Then I actually looked at my skirt.. FLEAS EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHH!!! 

There was like 5 but i only caught and killed 3.... Sister Taituuga found 1 and disposed of it...

I am sure there are lots of others... I can feel them,,, with my flea senses...

So today we are de-fleaing everything... yay!

In actual news we have a new investigator: Alietta!! She is so good!! We are just doing how to begin teaching but she texts US first almost everyday!! We are so excited!! 

Love you all!!  Hope you had an awesome Christmas!!! If there is snow on the ground where you are, play in it for me ;)

Alofa tele atu!!

Sista Peo

 In Christmas Eve Pajamas

During Mission Conference

After Mission Conference

Pinata they made for the District

Photo Sister Taituuga sent but I don't know who is in it 

Dead flea

5am Christmas morning (Alley told us when we skyped with her that they woke up to open their gifts at 5am so they could still go play basketball with the Tongan Sisters)

Santa Tai

District in matching outfits

faifeautala'i fou

Lo'u Aiga ma uo (my family and friends)

O a mai? (how are you)

This week started off awesome; lessons, inviting people for our activities this weekend (we had volleyball and basketball on Saturday and a devotional on Sunday), service, but then everyone seemed to realize it was almost Christmas ;P Around Thursday everyone got too busy to talk to us or just weren't home. In fact none of our investigators came to any of our activities this weekend even though they said they would...FAANOANOA (sad)!! Fia tagi :'( (want to cry). haha!! That's okay, they have their agency! We did our job by inviting them! :)

On Wednesday we had splits with the Missionaries in the MTC again! The Sisters from Samoa came with Sister Taituuga and me!! The one that came on splits with me, Sister Fata is going to Sydney North, and the Sister who split with Sister Taituuga, Sister Ulu, is coming HERE!!! IN THE SAMOAN PROGRAM!! Whaaaat? so then we had fun trying to guess who Sister Ulu's trainer would be!! Hahah! she is coming in the middle of the transfer so she will be in a trio for a few weeks before she knows who it is! I hope she will be in a trio with us! That would be so fun!!

There are only 6 sisters in the program, 4 of them were called to it, 2 of them are visitor center sisters (Sister Taituuga and Sister Poina- Sister Corrigan's trainer). 

We had lessons with Nortia this week (our investigator who was supposed to be baptized with Caroline). Hopefully we will get a date pinned down for her this week... we will see! I will keep you posted!

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!! I am so thankful for Jesus Christ and the sacrifice he has made for us. He has paid the price for my sins, and asks for nothing in return except to follow his example and come unto him.

Alofa tele atu,

Sista Peo

After playing basketball with the Tongan Sisters.

Tagata sailiili fou

If anyone would like to send Sister Peo an email for Christmas, I know she'd love to hear from you!!  Her p-day's are on our Sunday (US)--her Monday.

alley.peo@myldsmail.net


Loved ones,

Last week was hot as! We were melting into puddles! But this week was cold!!!! What gives?? I thought it was summer ;) it was dark and rainy all week, so cold at night and humid and muggy during the day. Just picture my hair... it was not to be controlled this week ;)

Did I tell yous that we have friends now?? WE HAVE TOGAN SISTERS IN OUR DISTRICT!!! YAY!!! We have been waking up early and meeting them at the chapel at 6am and playing sports!! Sister Puhulu and I got a little aggressive... fouling each other... all in good fun though!! But we accidentally smashed my watch..  Don't worry, I taped it back together 

Sister Taituuga and I felt like we needed to meet new faces this week. We went back through the area book and a bunch of names and went and contacted them!! LOTS INVITED US BACK!! YAY!!! Thus the Tagata sailiili fou (new investigators).

Also this week I was reading my Tusi a Mamona and thinking "when on earth am I going to finish this thing??"  It is so long. So I made a goal!! I am going to finish it by the 16th of march!! In order to do that I have to read 6 pages every day! Bring it on!! ;) So far so good!! Yesterday I only read 3 pages but earlier this week I read 10 so it's alright!! Right now it takes me 15 minutes per page (I'm reading in Samoan and English so I for sure understand), it will be fun to see how fast I am improving on my language ;)

We watched the Christmas conference last night!! SOO GOOD!!! I loved all the talks!! Especially Elder Bednar's talk about how Christ is the light, and how we should steadfastly look to him. In Samoan the word for understanding and light are the same (malamalama). I know that as we steadfastly look towards the light of Christ and strive to stay in the light, we will receive further light and knowledge about the gospel. Heavenly Father is never too far away, he is never too busy to talk to you, and he desperately wants to hear from you. Miracles happen everyday. Look for them and Heavenly Father will send even more your way!! 

Have an amazing week!!

Alofa atu,

Sista Peo

This is a pic of the Samoan faifeautalai 

Elder Maiava on the left

Elder Ngungutau (still here) in between Sister Taituuga and I

It's December!! WHAAAT!?!?!

Family, Friends, Faifeautalai,

Sister Taituuga is still my companion!! Transfers came and went! *whew*!! Elder Moea'i was transferred though (he was sent to the palagi program. Moment of silence please....thank you ;)) Elder Fametau (our district leader) was also transferred! So Elder Ngungutau (Moea'i's companion) is our new district leader!!

I lost my planner this week! CRY!!! Sister Taituuga Lost her Tusi a Mamona (Book of Mormon in Samoan). They are gone, gone, gone... We have no idea where to find them!!! oh well. life goes on!!

Our mission conference is on December 23rd (Joseph Smith's birthday!!!!)!!!! They wrote a Hamilton mission haka!!! We have been working on learning it so that we will be ready to learn the actions at mission conference!! Also Sista Taituuga and I have been preparing a Christmas song to sing to everyone... :) its tracting in a winter wonderland. We are the coolest...Jacob 6:12 oh be wise... what can I say more? ;)

We have been taking members with us to lessons like crazy this week!! But lots of our lessons drop last minute... so that's interesting. Everyone is getting really busy and forgetting about our appointments!! And I think half of everyone in New Zealand is going to Sa (Samoa) for Christmas!! LOL!! 

OH THE MOST EXCITING NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!! Sista Taituuga and I got permission to go down and see the temple lights with our ward, recent converts and investigators!! WHOOP WHOOP!! President made an announcement saying only Hamilton missionaries could go see the lights, but our bishop (Bishop Sioli) called and asked for permission for us!! PRESIDENT SAID YES!!! YAY!!! but the Elders aren't allowed to come... shhhhhh don't tell them we're going ;)

I hope everyone has a great week!! Look for people to serve!! They are everywhere!! Heavenly Father will point them out to you if you are willing to listen!!

Alofa Tele Atu!!!

Sista Peo

Got the package and decorated the flat!

 Sista Taituuga and Sista Peo in Santa Hats (not sure how to turn this one, sorry!)

 The flat decorations

 Ute Fans in NZ

 They get fed so much that this is what their fridge and pantry look like after not grocery shopping for 3 weeks!

O a'u seki a

Tagata (people),

O a'u Seki a... I am awesome ;)

I definitely left this email for last, and I definitely ran out of time! I am terribly sorry!! 

HIGHLIGHT: CAROLINE'S BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!! WHOOOP WHOOP!!! She is so cute!!!

Friday was as crazy as!! We were running around inviting people to the baptism and then we went up to the chapel for her interview and no one was there!! We hung around for 20 minutes and no one came!! We ran to her house and she was dead asleep with no one to give her a ride!! WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO GIVE HER A RIDE!! We called and asked for permission but were told no!! The Samoan zone leader had an appointment to go to and we had no way to get Caroline there!! NOOOOOO! Finally we got a member to give her a ride, and we all got up there, but the chapel was locked!! Our Zone leaders forgot to open it!! The elders ran over to the MTC to see if they had a key and we called everyone who might have a key. Did I mention it was pouring rain? ;) The MTC didn't have a key and the Zone leaders sent the AP's to give us a key but the Samoan zone leader's appointment was imminent! So they did the interview in the car! LOL!!! 

Moral of the story: Satan does his absolute best to stop things from happening. But Heavenly Father will always provide a way for things to happen. It might not seem like it in this email but we weren't sure that we'd be able to get Caroline to her interview... and then she wouldn't have been baptized on Saturday! BUT THE LORD PROVIDED A WAY!! AND HE ALWAYS DOES!!!

Transfers are Thursday, Sister Taituuga thinks I will train someone. Pray that isn't true ;) supposedly transfers are shown on our mission portal but nothing is different so maybe nothing is changing? I hope so! Sister Taituuga wants to go back to the visitor center though! ;)

Side note: For Thanksgiving we did service with the elders at the L'io aiga! They fed us and then we went and ate again at our fafaga's house... not turkey but two meals I think is enough for me ;)

FUNNY STORY!! I had lots but I will just write this one: Caroline slipped in a puddle up at the chapel and one of the elders said "Easy there, I know you're excited but that isn't deep enough! Just wait for tomorrow!" LOL

Alofa tele atu!!

Sista Peo

 Caroline's Baptism

 Caroline scared of Moea'i

 Sista Peo

O'i Aue

Peeps,

Prepare yourselves for a story of a lifetime:

Did I tell you that members complained to Brother Fu's (the ward mission leader) that I wasn't eating anything and it wasn't worth preparing a fafaga? The struggle!! So I have been trying to eat more... and not get fat at the same time... miracles happen right?

I kept telling Sister Taituuga: Soa I'm going to throw up!! And she would laugh as at me!!

Oh man... Friday there was an Aualofa (relief society) activity (side note: everyone goes to activities no matter who its for in Samoan wards) and it was a dance. We invited and got lots of investigators there!! So that was waaaay good!! We got permission to go, and the ward made us sit at the special table of honour with the bishopric and their wives. The YSA came and filled our plates with food! I will attach a picture. I tried to finish my plate and didn't' even come close, no one did. Soa, Moea'i and Ngungutau wicked laughed at me for how much I ate.  They didn't even try to eat very much! But I was worried about being rude!! I felt sick as!! Ya, woke up Saturday morning and threw up all the food. Fa'anoanoa!!! It was palusami too!!! My favorite!! So who knows when I'm going to be able to eat that again. I didn't eat anything for two days.. Sister Taituuga almost made me go to the hospital again. Sister Fu'e is awesome and brought me some medicine though!!! So that was waaaay good!!! 

That was my fun story for the week!! moral of the story: don't over eat! :D

Heavenly Father Loves you!!! 

I love you!!

Alofa tele atu,

Sista Peo

Photos:

My full plate from Aualofa

 The devil palusami i would throw up 10 hours later

Sis Taituuga squishing Sis Peo's head while she was sick

Sis Taituuga, Sis Fu'e (WML's wife) and Sis Peo

Valea

Tagata,

Thank you for your concern concerning my fleas (bedbugs?)!! We sprayed and washed everything!! All seems well... we will have to see if they are just lulling me into a false sense of security so they can kill me in one fell swoop OR if they are truly gone ;) I will keep you posted!!

We had exchanges this week!1 I STAYED in my area with our sister Training leader, Sister Boligor, she is Filipino and 4'10" so we probably looked really funny walking around!! She is in the palagi program!! Ya Thursday was interesting trying to teach and converse by myself in Samoan... I did okay though I think! Everyone took sympathy on us and tried to speak English, then asked me every ten minutes when Sista Taituuga was coming back!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!

We have another set for the 28th!! Lol!!! A family we are Re activating has an almost 9 year old daughter who will be baptised on the 28th with Caroline!! 

The work is so strange!! Our investigators are struggling and a couple are progressing but SUPER slowly. But people keep falling out of the sky for us to baptize ;) not really but we are kind of blindsided by them. I wish our other investigators would progress though!!! Everyone has there agency...

Yesterday after we blew through half of our plans in half an hour we saw a short cut that we thought would lead to our next appointment, so we took it! LOL!! NOPE!! It took us to the botanical gardens!!! LOL!! it was cool though!! 

Some fun things I don't think I told you:

My church building shares the parking lot with the Aukland MTC! man it's tiny!!! Only 50 people in there right now! I'm so glad i went to the Provo MTC ;)

Sister Taituuga sends her love!!

Alofa Tele atu,

Sista Peo

P.s. It is pouring rain right now and my hair is not to be contained ;)

*Extra questions Jeff asked her this week that I thought I'd include*
1- how many discussions do you teach in a week?
2- are they always in Samoan?  if no, how many in English vs Samoan.
3- you haven't mentioned struggling with the language lately.  I'm sure it is still hard.  how is it coming along?
4- how many Samoan speaking sisters are there in the mission?
5 - is the ward conducted in Samoan?

1- this week we had 12 other lessons and 18 LAC lessons  and 8 member present

2- No, it depends on who we visit. for example Caroline our baptism doesn't speak Samoan, but she understands it. Her family speaks Samoan and she is attending Alema which (my) Samoan ward. So we teach her in English so she can for sure understand completely. there are other people we visit that are fia-palagi (want to be white) and will only speak to us in english. Right now i would say half our lessons are English (just because of how many lessons we are having with Caroline ;))

3- I am awful at Samoan. I can hardly understand anyone. BUT I am working hard and trying not to get discouraged! :)

4-Right now there are only 3 sets in the mission. Lots of people were called to the program apparently but requested to be moved out because they were struggling too much with the language.

5- Yup all of my meetings are in Samoan. Primary and YW are in English so when we have taught those we speak English but aualofa (relief society), gospel doctrines, and sacrament meeting is all in Samoan!!

 All the sisters in my zone (Sister tai, fifita, green, boligor, davison, me) (yes i'm fat..:(

 Sister Taituuga straightened my hair a few days ago.. (I immediately put it in a ponytail after this)

 pine trees in NZ

weird birds

FA'ANOANOA

Friends, family, loved ones,

I bear sad news... *sob*

Sister Taituuga and I... Are fighting a noble battle. Spiritually.. yes! But also physically. You see... I have.. FLEAS!!!!!!!!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Those itchy bumps were flea bites. We are out for blood! MAN! I HATE FLEAS!!! Sister Taituuga only has like one bite on her whole body... I HAVE THEM EVERYWHERE!!! GAAAAHHH!!!! It's okay though!! We are going to get some poison and put it all over everything! Should be fun!! ;)

THIS WEEK WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE COOLEST THING HAPPENED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So our companionship goal for this transfer is a baptism!! We have been talking A LOT about baptism in district meetings and zone meeting because the baptism numbers for the mission are SOOOOOOOOOOOO LOW :( Our district leader challenged us to pray about things we can specifically do to progress our investigators for baptism! I was doing that Thursday morning when I received revelation that IF I did everything i needed to do (Sister Taituuga and i had just been discussing things i could improve on in lessons) in the lesson and continued to do my absolute best, we would have a set by District meeting on Tuesday!! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????!!!!!!!! 

We fasted on Friday!! And on Saturday our district leader called and said that they ran into the Esekia family in our ward and they had someone for us to baptize. We thought he was kidding, but went over anyway! HE WAS SERIOUS!! Her niece is 10, her name is Caroline and her mom is less active but asked Sister Esekia if she could get the missionaries to give lessons to Caroline and baptize her!! WHAAAAT!?! Caroline has been going to church with Sister Esekia!! We taught her the first lesson yesterday and SET her for the 28th of November!! Her mom is okay with that date and we meet with her again on Wednesday!!!!! So good!!

I know that Heavenly Father love us. He knows exactly what we are going through and how to help us. He has so many blessings to give us if we will only ask him, and be willing to work!

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!! Serve the lord and receive your miracles!!! ... and fight the fleas  (pretend this hammer is a sword)

ALofa tele atu!!!

Sista Peo

alley.peo@myldsmail.net

(Fa'anoanoa means sad)
(I am sad about the fleas not about the baptism ;))

Do you think Alma and Amulek had fleas when they suffered all manner of afflictions?? If so that alone qualifies them for the celestial kingdom in my opinion ;)

Aua le valua

Peeps,

Hows it rolling?

We've had a rocking week in the down under ;) TELE LESONA (many lessons)!!!!

We had 4 progressing investigators this week!!! WOOOHOOOO!!!! Our lesson with Taleleo Fruen fell through last week so we are going to try invite her to papatiso ma lotu (baptism and church) today. If all goes well and she seems keen we will set her for the 28th!!

Have I told you about the Panapa Aiga? they are a couple in their late 50's early 60's. Uileta (Juliet in Samoan) Panapa is a RM, but her husband is a strong Catholic. She is less active. Every time they go to our house they feed us a meal... whether it's meal time or not...

We taught *funny story for later* them a lesson yesterday. We left them lesson 1 pamphlet AND THEY READ IT!!! WOOOHOO!! So we taught lesson 1... it was sad. THE SPIRIT WAS SOOO STRONG!! But his heart was hard and wouldn't accept a copy of the book of mormon. We gave him the second pamphlet and he said he would read it before our next lesson. We are praying for him.

After that lesson they fed us.. ugg... A WHOLE FISH FOR  EACH OF US. The head and tail were chopped off but everything else was still there! There was a mug full of what I thought was milk, but actually was coconut cream and fish oil. You are supposed to take a bite of fish and then drink a little bit of the cream. I had no idea what I was doing BAHAHA!!!! I keep getting bones in my mouth... there are lots of little bones in fish! What the heck!! That was fun.

I am a bit of an alligator now (heh. Alley-Gator. Heh.). I can eat just about anything. I eat chicken, fish, you name it. I have eaten food that has definitely not been cooked enough and not gotten sick. Siste Taituuga has drinken (druken.. drink? drank? drunk? what?) milk that was in our car for 3 hours and was just fine. I think that must be one of the missionary superpowers: Alligator stomachs ;)

What other news? 

I AM COVERED IN BUMPS!!! We don't think we have fleas, their bites look different, but we are covered in itchy bumps. I can't stop scratching so mine are HUGE! Thus my title for the email (it means don't itch).

We referred the Solo Brothers to our elders, hopefully they will be able to teach them lessons since we can't really. There needs to be a women in the house for us to teach them, and their mom still doesn't want us to. So hopefully the elders will have more luck.

.... OH! funny story from earlier

In Samoan teach and learn are the same word: a'oa'o. You know the correct meaning based on context. When My soa wants to say " we taught a lesson to..." what she says "We learned a lesson to.." BAHAHA!!! It cracks me up!! She is so cute!!

UMA! I think that's it!! I love you all!!

Manuia le Vaiaso!!

Alofa atu!!

Sista Peo


Sistas Taituuga and Peo

Sista Taituuga, Auntie Rima (who came to church this week!!!) and Sista Peo

O ai lenei?

Friends, Family, Peeps in general,

Hows it going??

WE HAD A ROCKING WEEK!!! WHAT WHAT??!!!??

We had TONS of lessons and visited SO MANY less active people! We did service for Aunty Rima (less active, her husband is samoan and isn't a member) and for the Fu'e Aiga (aiga means family)(the Fu'e's are our ward mission leaders) But not many new investigators... sad face. We invited 10 people to a fireside on self reliance we had last night and not a single one came. They all bailed last minute. FA'ANOANOA!!!!!!!! (Sad). We are trying to figure out what happened. Our conclusion is that our investigators are too nice to us. They aren't really interested in the gospel, they just want to talk to us. *Sigh*. 

We got Aunty Rima to sacrament meeting yesterday though!! WOOHOO!! I also asked Taleleo Fruen if she would be baptized and she said yes!! Next lesson we will commit her to a day! We are worried about her though... we are worried that she is just being too nice to us... I will keep you updated about that!! JOE SOLO HAS BEEN READING THE BOOK OF MORMON!!!!! YESSSSSSSS!!!

The subject line is "O ai lenei?" which is "who was that?". Whenever we are walking by the road we always get honked at and waved to... But 9 times out of 10 we have no idea who the heck is in the car!! LOL!!! CAR!! THAT REMINDS ME!!!!!!! WE GOT A CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ...... Guess who's driving...YOURS TRULY!!!!! Sister Taituuga only has to remind me to stay on the left 10 times a day ;) JUST KIDDING!!!! I am a good driver!!

OH!! Transfers were on Thursday! Neither Me or Sister Tai got transferred! I am so happy!! But one of our Elder's (Po Asaua) got transferred. So now we have Elder Moea'i (still) and Nunutau (that's not spelled right. He's togan!!! IN THE SAMOAN PROGRAM!!! Whaaaat!! so because he's tongan there's a g in there somewhere.... eh)

Is there anything else...?

I'M FAT!!!!!! welll not yet... But at this rate i will be!! GUESS HOW MANY MEALS WE WERE FED THIS WEEK!!!! 9!!!! how many were we supposed to be fed? 5!!!! THAT'S ALMOST TWICE THE AMOUNT!!! I'M GOING TO DIE!!!! Sister Fue literally bought us each a triple cheeseburger combo AND a milkshake AND an icecream ONE HOUR BEFORE OUR FAFAGA ON WEDNESDAY!!!! I ABOUT EXPLODED!!!!! Not to mention the fact that because Sister Tai hates ice cream, I have to eat the other half of hers whenever a member gives it to us.... We've had ice cream three times this week... .___. AND KFC!! The KFC count for this week is 4. Have I mentioned that I'm going to die? LOL!!!

I LOVE MY MISSION!!! AND THE PEOPLE ARE AMAZING!!!!! AHHHH!! I AM SO BLESSED!!!

Manuia le Vaiaso!!! ( blessed week... that's a bad translation... eh)

Alofa tele Atu!!!!!

Sista Peo

Service with Rima!! (Rima and Tai)

 My sweet as tan!! ;) be jealous!!

manuia vaiaso

Family, Friends, Missionaries,

How's it going?

It's been a wicked good week! We got to teach lots of lessons (all how to begin teaching but thats good!)! We also had exchanges this week! I went with our Sister Training leader (Sister Page) into her area (hillpark), and her companion (sister Green- who was in my sociology class at the U) came to our area with Sister Tai! So i was in the palagi program for the day, which was very fun! It was fun to be able to understand exactly what was happening during the lesson and be confident with my words. We taught the plan of salvation to a young family with  5,3,and1 year old boys so that was really fun ;)

For personal study I read preach my gospel in samoan. It is very slow going. But i am getting much better!! I can really feel myself improving! Sometimes there will be whole paragraphs i can understand! Speaking is still a struggle though, I get very nervous around people and in lessons and basically just become mute. It frustrates Sister Taituuga so much. Lately she has taken to just being silent during our Fafaga (feeds) so that i will be the one that drives the conversations with our members. But I am improving.

Our progressing investigators are: The Solo brothers, Alesana family (we soft set them a couple of weeks ago but the struggle to understand the need to be baptized "again" when they were already abptized in their church) and Lagi Tusa ( a very nice lady who we started teaching last week! She works at night so its tricky to get a hold of her but she's great!)

I feel so inadequate constantly. I almost never do anything correctly. I can't imagine my life without the atonement of Jesus Christ. I use it constantly. Heavenly Father loves you. Your savior loves you. You can do hard things.

Alofa atu,

Sista Peo

Alofa Tele Atu!!!!

Friends, Family, Faifeautalai, Random people I don't know,

How is everyone?? :)

I had a good week!! We contacted HEAPS of people this week... but only have 2 new investigators... Also we only have 2 progressing investigators (neither of whom are ready to be baptized). We taught the Solo brothers this week when their mom was gone (they still wanted to take lessons even though she didn't approve) and we are hoping that their mom won't get too upset.

We went to the health clinic twice this weekend... Sister Taituuga has bronchitis (but wont admit it), and I had another attack. Dang, I wish we could just be healthy!! We have to go to the health clinic again this week as a follow up for me... they aren't quite sure what to do with me and how to keep me better I guess.

Conference was ROCKING!!!!!! WOOHOOO!!! there were heaps of amazing talks and i recieved some amazing personal revelation! Elder Lawrence is da man!! Loved his talk!! It is so important to keep the holy ghost with us and be able to receive revelation through him!! Also what scripture is everyone ponderizing this week?? I am going to do Alema 34:32, It's a great scripture for extending commitments to both members and investigators :)

I was very frustrated this week with my language abilities (surprise, surprise i know). I had a day where i was so frustrated it actually made me unable to speak Samoan at all. That's not cool!! I have decided that I'm done being frustrated with myself. I'm not done pushing myself to improve, but i'm done expecting perfection now. I am done being so pessimistic about my abilities and skills. By being negative we are basically telling Heavenly Father that we aren't greatful for the gifts he has given us. That's no good!! I have been focusing on the things i can say rather than the things i cant. AND ITS WORKING!!! Yesterday there was a significant increase in what i was able to understand during our fafaga (Feed). I am so excited!! 

Miracles happen every single day. Be sure to acknowledge them and thank your heavenly father for them!! I love you all so much!!! HAVE AN AMAZINGLY SPECTACULARLY PRIME WEEK!!! aaaaaaaaaaaand Happpy Canadian thanksgiving!!! 

Alofa tele atu!!!!

Sista Peo

Mai

Friend's, Family, Faifeautalai (missionary)

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week! I have heard about everyone watching conference the last couple days and my heart is melting!! We are watching it next weekend! :(((((

I AM SO EXCITED THOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is not much to report this week. My Soa (companion) got the flu this week (mai=sick) so we were flat bound for 3 days. So sad!! I used all of that extra time for language study! So I got a few days of study!! And That's exactly what I had told my MTC teacher I needed last week when I emailed him!! SO funny!!

The day we went proselyting after our sick days was SUPER good!! Heaps of people talked to us and we got heaps of potential investigators!! It was sweet as!! Most of our conversations were in English, so I was actually useful in the conversation! And I finally was feeling like I was fulfilling my missionary purpose!! But at the same time I felt like I was such a cheater for speaking English.

We had an activity with the youth where we took them out proselyting with us. BUT THERE WERE TOOO MANY YOUTH!!  They had to split companionships up!! So I took two laurel's proselyting in my SAMOAN area BY MYSELF!!! I WAS TERRIFIED!!! But it ended up being a great experience! Everyone we met with and taught spoke to us in English so that worked out great!! I'm such a cheater. I JUST WANT TO BE FLUENT!!!! IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK!?!?! ;) Yes Sista Peo... Yes it is!!

I've been studying in Alma lately and all the amazing missionaries that reside in those pages! I've been taking notes on ways I can improve my missionary abilities! Right now I'm in Alma 19 but there is something really cool in Alma 4 I'd like to share! In verse 3 it talks about how the people are suffering because of their "abominations" and "therefore they were awakened to a remembrance of their duty". I love the wording in that verse!! Remembrance of their duty!! As a missionary we talking about always having our purpose in mind so that we remember our duty and what we need to be doing. Fun thoughts!!

I love you all so much!! Thank you for your love and prayers, they are deeply felt!!! Remember your duty this week ;)

Alofa tele atu,

Sista Peo

Fgamanu Fulu ma Malumalu

Friends, family, missionaries, strangers,

It Has been one heck of a week!!!

We went to the temple which was so awesome!! We did initiatories and a session!! The New Zealand temple is so beautiful!!! 

We also had our baptism on saturday!!! WOOHOOO!!! So exciting!!! It was so cool!! While Fagamanu was getting changed back into his clothes we had to give a presentation on the restoration. I was terrified!! But the Holy ghost helped me, and Sister Taituuga told me she didn't know i could speak samoan like that! I can't... the spirit can ;)

The struggle has been real this week with learning samoan! In the beginning of the week i was to afraid to even speak. Now i will speak, but i over think what i am trying to say. BUT I AM TRYING!! Everyone told me there would be lessons where i wouldn't understand the investigator, but i didn't realize i wouldn't understand my companion either!! In the instances i dont know what to say!! Baahah!!

Sister Taituuga and i have worked out a plan this morning that we think will help immensely with this situation. We breakdown everything we are going to teach that day into parts and divide it, that way i know exactly what to study. I will have to let you know how that goes!

Have i mentioned lately that sister Taituuga is an angel for being so patient with me??

SHE IS!!!! Oh my goodness I am so lucky!!!!

Padre asked me if I covered the whole zone by bike. Yes We do, but we never bike because sister Taituuga doesn't like to bike in sunday clothes, so we walk! The members are so nice and if ever they see us walking they will pull over and give us a ride!! The members are great!! They are constantly feeding us!! I didn't eat breakfast yesterday and i didn't even notice until 5 minutes before our feed (faufauga)...

We joke that we could not buy groceries and be fine because we get fed so much! We are buying more food though because not doing so could lead to some uncomfortable mornings ;)

Funny stories:

We walked past a street called arnwood, and my soa started singing "onward ever onward..." LOL!!!!

My Soa Doesn't have an accent except on the 'g' sound. So I always tease her about the cold and gold... or as she says: cold and kold. 

I LOVE YOU ALLL SO MUCH!!!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND PRAYERS!!!!!!!

Alofa tele atu,

Sista Peo

P.s. I received two letters and a package this week!! How blessed am i??? THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!!

 Fgamanu's baptism

 Hospital Selfie (from 2 weeks ago)

 First Temple Trip in Hamilton

Sister Peo

Kia ora!  Greetings from the New Zealand Hamilton Mission.

Sister Peo arrived safely to Hamilton, and is already labouring in her new area. Her companion is Sister Taituuga.  They will be serving in the Redoubt Zone, up in south Auckland.   I have enclosed a picture of them, one of the entire group that arrived the same day, as well as a picture with us.  We love Sister Peo already!

We look forward to serving with Sister Peo in this wonderful work as the missionary wave floods this great country of New Zealand!  We need her and are excited to serve together!  Her testimony will grow as she helps others receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.

Arohanui,

President and Sister Rudd